Daily Inspiration

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” -Matthew 16:24-28
 
I’m often questioned about suffering. People ask, “Don’t you think Jesus just wants us to be happy? Didn’t He die so we wouldn’t have to suffer?”
 
My simple answer is yes to the first and no to the second. Everything Jesus taught was for the benefit of our souls. He laid out the path for us to follow, leading us to God in heaven. There is no happiness in this world that can compare to the happiness we will encounter in the presence of God. The time we have on this earth is a gift from God. It should be used wisely to forge our soul into a vessel pleasing to Our Lord.
 
When we finally surrender, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, we find true life and true profit; we gain something greater than anything found in this world. We find love, happiness, and the reward promised by Christ. When we open ourselves to sacrifice and carry our cross, Christ comes to dwell in that favored soul.
 
Saint Teresa Benedicta of The Cross, pray for us.
 
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Jesus, I trust in you.